Message Boards

Topic : BETA Community FAQ and Help Page

Number of Replies: 194

New Messages This Week: 0

Last Reply On:

Created on : Wednesday, October 08, 2008, 10:03:07 am

Author : DrPhilBoard1

Join the new Dr. Phil Community! Currently in BETA, the new Dr. Phil Community will allow you to personalize your message board experience. We’ve created this FAQ board to help guide you through the transition from the old boards to the new boards. Here, you will find helpful tips to getting started. You can also post your questions and we’ll answer them!

NOTE: Please post only questions related to technical issues, or how to use the new boards and blogs. Any other questions will be removed.

UPDATED 11/13/08

What is MY PAGE?

My Page allows you quick access to all of your member features.

My Profile

Shows your private member profile.

Allows you to edit your profile picture.

Allows you to edit your profile via the "About me" link.

My Blog

Lists all of your blog entries, mood changes and quote changes.

Allows you to edit or delete a blog, or change the privacy setting.

Allows you to select when the blog will be posted so you can write it in advance and select the date when it will go live.

My Friend Gallery

Shows all of your current friends.

My Photo Gallery

Shows all of your current photo entries.

Allows you to edit or delete an entry.

My Video Gallery

Shows all of your current video entries.

My Audio Gallery

Shows all of your current audio entries.

My Comments

When a member posts a comment to your blog, you have the option to accept or reject it. All comments waiting to be approved by you will appear here.

My Friends

All pending friend requests will appear here, you have the option to accept or deny a request.

My Media

Shows number of audio or video entries awaiting approval.

What is UPDATE BLOG?

A blog is a section where you can share your thoughts on just about anything! It's similar to our current diaries, you can also select who is allowed to view your blog entries.

Post a Text Entry

Adds a text only entry.

Post a Photo Entry

Allows you to add one or more pictures along with text.

Post a Video Entry

Allows you to upload a video or record one from your webcam along with text.

Post an Audio Entry

Allows you to upload an audio file or record an audio along with text.

Change Mood

Add or change a mood with an icon along with a text entry.

Change Goal

Add a goal as a text entry.

Change Quote

Select or change a quote from a selected list of Dr. Phil "Philisms.".

What Types of Comments/Messages can I post?

There are four different types of messages you can post

A Text entry allows you to only add text, nothing else.

A Photo entry allows you to add a photo, or multiple photos along with text.

A Video entry allows you to upload a video from your computer, or record one from your webcam. You can also add text to this entry.

An Audio entry allows you to upload an audio file from your computer, or record one using your microphone. This also allows you to add text.

How do I post a Comment/Message or Blog Entry?

To post a comment/message, click the arrow down icon next to Reply with Text. A dropdown box will appear allowing you to select a text, photo, Video or audio entry.

For Audio, video and photo, please follow the instructions to upload or record. NOTE: We still need to add instructions for uploading a video and audio from your computer.

For a Text entry, you can either type directly into the posting box and use the formatting toolbar, or you can use one of the following:

The icon with the letter T on it allows you to paste something as plain text. Use this if you wish to strip any formatting when you're copying from another site or word processor. Click on the T, paste your text and click Insert. The plain text will then be inserted into the posting box for you to submit.

The icon with the letter W allows you to paste something you already typed in Microsoft Word. It will keep the formatting just as it appears in Word. Click on the W, paste your text and click Insert. The formatted text will then be inserted into the posting box for you to submit.

To the far right you will see HTML. Clicking this allows those familiar with HTML code to add their own HTML tags. Once you finish writing your coded text, click Update and your formatted text should then appear in the posting box to submit.

For Blogs, you also have the option to choose who is allowed to view them (Everyone, Just Friends, Only You), whether or not comments are allowed to be posted to your blog, and the date you wish your blog to appear. The default is to appear today as soon as it is reviewed by the moderators.

What are Blogs?

A Blog is your personal place where you can chat about anything, some folks like to use it as a diary. The blog belongs to you and you have control over who is allowed to view it. You alone are responsible for screening all comments posted to your blog. You can view pending comments under MY PAGE at the top, also in the left column when you go to your own profile. You then have the option to accept or reject a comment posted by someone else to your blog.

Blogs can be edited, but once a public blog is edited, it's sent back to the moderators for review. You can also add moods, a Dr. Phil quote, and goals to your blog, all of these can be found under UPDATE BLOG at the top.

What are Friends?

Make new friends or invite current friends to be on your friends list! With Friends, you can set up a blog that only those on your friends list can view and comment on. You also have the option of selecting how much info from your profile page your friends are allowed to view.

When you invite someone to be your friend, you need to wait until they accept your invitation. If someone sends you a friends request, you can view Pending Requests under MY PAGE at the top. You then have the option to accept, or deny the request.

How do I invite someone to be on my Friends list?

If you see a message posted by one of your friends, simply click on their user name to access their profile page. From that page you can invite them to be your friend.

If your friend hasn't posted yet, you can use the "User Search" box located on the left side on the main community page to access their profile: http://community.drphil.com/

What is My Profile?

Your profile page is what others can view to learn more about you. They can access your public profile page by clicking on your user name. You can choose exactly what information is made public, and who is able to view it.

To add a picture to your profile click Edit Profile Image and follow the instructions.

To edit your About Me section, click the Edit link. Here you can select what information you wish to remain public for all to view, which information only your friends may view, and which information no one can view.

This is where you can also update your personal info, and change your password.

You can also select how many messages you can view per page, and increase the font size.

I selected to have everything in my profile private, but it's still showing up. Why?

If you are still logged into your account, you will see more info than what the public can view. To see exactly what others can view, log out and then locate your member profile. You can use the SEARCH on the left side to find it.

The following have now been added to the BETA boards:

You can see whenever someone on your Friends list adds a new blogentry. Go to your profile page and next to the word FRIENDS it willlist if there are any new entries posted by any of your friends totheir blog.

On the main community page, on the left side you'll see a section called public blogs. As new blogs are created, they'll be added here for others to view. Similar to our Shared Diaries.

Ability to sort boards either by date or by popularity.

Ability to view NEW Messages since your last login. Also ALL messages.

Mousing over a profile pic on a message board post will enlarge the image for viewing.

Animated gifs are now supported on the BETA site. These will however, take a bit longer to upload since these files are generally larger in size.

Spell check has been added for text entries and comments

You can now choose a larger font size via your edit profile page.

You can now select messages to appear newest to oldest, or oldest to newest via your profile page.

A Subscribe/Unsubscribe link has now been added to message boards and blogs so you can add your favorite ones to your subscription list for easy access. Your subscription list will appear at the bottom of your profile page.

You may edit and/or delete any message or blog entry that you post.

As of January, 2009, this message board will become "Read Only" and will be closed to further posting. Please join the NEW Dr. Phil Community to continue your discussions, personalize your message board experience, start a blog and meet new friends.

Simple suggestion

I don't belive you can reply to a specific message with the new format. One thing you can do is copy the part of the original message you're replying to, and then paste it at the top of your own message. Perhaps bold it so it stands out.

As for reading a member's post history, that request has been submitted to the developers.

A simple suggestion if wanting to answer multiple people in the one post in the new format would be this:

Right click mouse on "Reply with text"

Click on either "Open in New Tab" (Vista) or "Open in New Window" (other OP systems)

That way you will be able to look back on the other window while typing your new message and answering any questions without having to quote.

BETA Community FAQ and Help Page

It would be really nice if you changed the font/background/cursor colors. Hard on the eyes.

We're working on changing the background color. Font and cursor will most likely remain black.

Make it possible to rearrange your Friends...so those who have been near and dear to you can be on your "Profile page".

I'll send this as a suggestion but it's probably going to be a low priority until the major bugs get fixed.

Be able to have "Favorite" boards, so you can jump right to them.

This is being addressed and is on the fix-it list.

Be able to respond with quote.

Don't think this one is possible, sorry. I suggest you just c/p from the post you're replying to (like I'm doing) as a workaround.

Be able to have favorite "blogs".

This too is on the fix-it list.

Have "friend" updates.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by this, can you clarify?

I'll come up with more as I play with it more...

Thanks! :)

Don't think this one is possible, sorry. I suggest you just c/p from the post you're replying to (like I'm doing) as a workaround.

How come we can respond with quote here, but not on the Beta site? Also...I really like being able to read a post...click on the post it was in response to and so and and so on...it makes following convos so much easier (and very handy when debating!)

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by this, can you clarify?

Say...a friend posts a blog...is there a way to have a announce that when we log in? Like...a little section that let's you know "PhillyFriend1" added a new picture...posted a new blog...posted a video...etc etc...

I would imagine, as our friend lists grow...none of us will scroll through every single one to see what they've shared...but...if we have an update message when we sign in...we can go straight to it. Especially handy if a friend has some good, bad, sad etc news to share...

OH...here's another item on my list...it took me a moment to figure out that I had to "check" my friend or "check" my pics before I could add my friend or post my pic.

Is there a way to simplify this? Like...have an add button for each item...and lose that check mark?

BETA Community FAQ and Help Page

Last post for now...then it's night night for me...

I just had a field day posting pics. It would be nice if it wasn't limited to a "square"...if the pic could be automatically resized. Also...I have a few "off with his head!" pics...I'll keep them up so you can see, if you need to...

Also...it would be nice if you could post a description for each pic...AND...if you could just click "next" for each pic (or make albums)...and not have to start all over and click on "Blah blahs picture blog"...that's sort of a drag...no flow...

BETA Community FAQ and Help Page

Don't think this one is possible, sorry. I suggest you just c/p from the post you're replying to (like I'm doing) as a workaround.

How come we can respond with quote here, but not on the Beta site? Also...I really like being able to read a post...click on the post it was in response to and so and and so on...it makes following convos so much easier (and very handy when debating!)

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by this, can you clarify?

Say...a friend posts a blog...is there a way to have a announce that when we log in? Like...a little section that let's you know "PhillyFriend1" added a new picture...posted a new blog...posted a video...etc etc...

I would imagine, as our friend lists grow...none of us will scroll through every single one to see what they've shared...but...if we have an update message when we sign in...we can go straight to it. Especially handy if a friend has some good, bad, sad etc news to share...

OH...here's another item on my list...it took me a moment to figure out that I had to "check" my friend or "check" my pics before I could add my friend or post my pic.

Is there a way to simplify this? Like...have an add button for each item...and lose that check mark?

:o)

OK...over and out for now!

Marie <3

How come we can respond with quote here, but not on the Beta site?
Also...I really like being able to read a post...click on the post it
was in response to and so and and so on...it makes following convos so
much easier (and very handy when debating!)

Because this is a totally new system that doesn't support quotes, sorry. :(

Say...a friend posts a blog...is there a way to have a announce that
when we log in? Like...a little section that let's you know
"PhillyFriend1" added a new picture...posted a new blog...posted a
video...etc etc...

I would imagine, as our friend lists grow...none of us will scroll
through every single one to see what they've shared...but...if we have
an update message when we sign in...we can go straight to it.
Especially handy if a friend has some good, bad, sad etc news to
share...

This is a good suggestion, I'll pass it along.

OH...here's another item on my list...it took me a moment to figure
out that I had to "check" my friend or "check" my pics before I could
add my friend or post my pic.

Is there a way to simplify this? Like...have an add button for each item...and lose that check mark?